Carbon dioxide storage and dispensing apparatus and method

Abstract

A carbon dioxide storage and dispensing apparatus and method for storing carbon dioxide which is characterized by a pressure vessel designed to hold carbon dioxide liquid and vapor, which pressure vessel is insulated to control heat input and includes a refrigeration system, fill and withdrawal piping, a fill line mixer provided in the fill line for rapidly mixing incoming liquid carbon dioxide with carbon dioxide in the vapor phase, a volume gauge, heating rod for introducing heat into the vessel and associated operating and safety control devices. The pressure vessel may be characterized by a horizontal or vertical tank and is designed to provide the user with an uninterrupted supply of carbon dioxide gas or liquid, while at the same time overcoming many of the problems associated with currently available carbon dioxide storage and dispensing equipment. A primary feature of the carbon dioxide storage and dispensing apparatus of this invention is the fill line mixer, which facilitates rapid intermixing of the gas phase fluid with the liquid phase introduced into the vessel during filling, in such a manner as to rapidly promote equilibrium conditions and resulting minimum pressure and temperature rise during filling, to eliminate carbon dioxide losses.